Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | January 8, 2024 | wbjournal.com BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Staff Writer I f soccer fever is about to sweep the U.S. in the lead up to the country hosting the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, it seems Cen- tral Massachusetts residents will still need to travel outside the region to catch a professional-level game. Since 2018, professional men's or women's soccer teams have been an- nounced or launched in Boston, Hart- ford, Pawtucket, and Portland, while New England's second-largest city has been sitting on the proverbial sidelines. Despite the area's robust sports scene and growing population, Central Mas- sachusetts has yet to see any tangible movement toward a professional soccer club, leading fans of the beautiful game to wonder what's missing. A growing game Soccer has reached the point where all but the most casual sports fans are aware of Major League Soccer, the top men's league featuring New England Revolution, based in Foxborough. Perhaps fewer are aware of the United Soccer League, a professional soccer organization based in Florida operating USL Championship, USL League One, No path toward goal Two years before soccer fever grips America again, Central Mass. appears to be missing out on the growth of the professional sport in New England and USL League Two, three leagues that respectively serve as the second, third, and fourth divisions of men's soccer. e organization doesn't share any affiliation with MLS or its franchises. Unlike the minor leagues of the NHL or MLB, the USL is not a farm system for the top division. e Championship, along- side League One, both feature salary-drawing players, while League Two focuses on being a home for developmental teams for college-age athletes, similar to the business model of baseball's Worcester Bravehearts. e league structure of the fe- male game is a bit more muddled. e National Women's Soccer League is considered by U.S. Soc- cer Federation to be the top-divi- sion league. Headquartered in New York City, the league announced in September the launch of a Bos- ton-based franchise in 2026. Another women's league, the USL Super League, aims to share top-division league status with the NWSL when it launches in 2024. Youth programs key If anyone is interested in starting a professional team in Worcester, they've kept a low profile. Tom Matthews, media and public relations administrator for the City of Worcester, confirmed to WBJ via email officials haven't received any outreach from anyone interested in bringing pro soccer to Worcester. But the lack of formal outreach doesn't mean figures in the local soccer scene aren't thinking about it. Jason Braga, vice president of New England Futbol Club, a Mendon-based not-for-profit training players from ages 6 to 23, said his organization has consid- ered creating a League Two team. "We've definitely entertained it." Braga said. "We do see the value of providing those role models at the local level." While the enthusiasm is there, two major barriers remain: the cost of launching a team and the lack of an ob- vious venue. e costs of launching run in the tens of thousands of dollars, even at a lower level like League Two. Having a robust youth soccer program like NEFC nearby is a key to success for lower-level teams, said longtime soccer journalist Josh Hakala. Hakala is found- er of eCup.us, a website covering the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. is yearly nation- wide tournament was first played in 1914 and features teams from levels ranging from MLS to amateurs, offering obscure teams a chance at a bigger spot- light and meaningful prize money. Hakala has seen many franchises come and go in his decades covering the sport. Being near a successful youth soccer system is key to survival, he said. "Most of the successful teams have based themselves around a strong youth soccer community," he said. "Any team that is trying to build from the ground up is trying to cultivate a fanbase, and what better way to do that than to have a youth academy that you can work with?" Stadium control a plus One example of a team finding success is League Two's Western Mass Pioneers, who have played at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow since 1998. e club has made the playoffs for three consecutive years and qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open Cup. Built in 1918, the club's 3,000- seat stadium, combined with support from the local Portuguese community, has helped the squad be one of the longest-running franchises in the league. Having complete control of the stadium's concessions and adver- tising has been a key to the Pio- neers' success, allowing the team to maximize revenue produced by League Two's short schedule, said Brandon Smith, director of com- munications and board member of the club. e intimate stadium offers 12 beers on tap and a variety of food options. Tickets are $10. "A lot of people appreciate the vibe of the stadium," Smith said, "It's in the middle of a neighbor- hood. You come in, and you can feel the history of it." Existing adult soccer teams in Worcester have to make do with Berkshire Bank Field at Foley Stadium in Worcester hosted two exhibition games featuring the U.S Women's National Team in the 1990s. Josh Hakala, jour- nalist and founder of TheCup.us The New England Revolution was founded in 1995, in the wake of the U.S hosting the Men's World Cup. If the upcoming 2026 World Cup will spawn another wave of soccer fever, it's yet to be seen in Worcester. PHOTO | COURTESY OF NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION / MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PHOTO | ERIC CASEY

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